Apparatus for the production of oxygen and hydrogen gases.



G. HALTER.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.27. I913.

1,172,885.; Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

G. HALTFR. APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES.APPLICATION FILED AUG.27, 1913.

1,172,885. Patented Feb. 22,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- G. HALTERQ.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.27. I913.

1,172,885. Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

3 SHEETS$HEET 3.

5 mm M301 UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HALTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO DAVIS-BOURNONVILLECOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27, 1913. Serial No. 786,913.

To all whom it may concern Be it. known that I, Gnonon HALTER, a citizenof the French Republic, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan,city, county, and State of NeW.York, have invented certain-new anduseful'Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Oxygen andHydrogen Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a novel apparatus for generating oxygenand hydrogen gases. Other apparatus for the production'of oxygen andhydrogen gases are costly in operation because of their resistance tothe electric current, and bulky and require a considerable floor space.

My apparatus consists of two electrodes of large electrical capacitysituated in close proximity and having the slightest possibleresistance, to wit, the solutionof the alkaline salt, and thereforeyields greatly increased quantities of oxygen and hydrogen in proportionto the floor space occupied.

My apparatus yields oxygen and hydrogen gases at low cost for weldingand chemical purposes, and of the highest possible purity for medicinaluses since all the gases generated are formed only on the electrodes;all the other parts of the apparatus being composed of insulating, ornon-com ducting material.

The maximum contact surface for contact with the caustic solution isafforded in my apparatus by positive electrodes composed of wirevertically arranged which arrangement also permits the free escape ofthe oxygen gas formed.

The invention also comprises certain useful features of construction,which will be hereinafter pointed out.

These objects are accomplished by the following described apparatus ofsimple andinexpensive construction, of very low consumption ofelectrical energy.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which thesame letters refer to the same parts.

Figure 1, is alongitudinal section of Fig. 3, at the center of thegenerator from A, to B, and at the center of the positive electrode fromC to D. Fig. 2, is a cross-section of Fig. 3, at the center EF of thegenerator. Fig. 3, represents the. plan of a group of two generatorsshowing (a) the electrical connections and the arrangement of thetake-off pipes for the generated gases, (6)

plate of iron welded to the sides.

rated by iron plates (f) welded to the sides and bottom of the tank,forming one or more compartments, each constituting a unit ofproduction. The tank (a) is closed on top by an iron cover (g), whichcan be .welded all around so as to render the tank gas tight, or by acover made of iron, castiron, or any insulating material, fastened bybolts and nuts (k) and made gas tight byv a lead or rubber gasket (i).The bottom of the tank (a) is formed by a The described method ofwelding the various parts together of Which the apparatus is composedproduces a solid unit of the metallic pieces by the autogenic processleaving no connecting surface or seams of a different metal or fluxbetween the welded parts.

whereby the resistance is reduced to a minimum. The cover (g) has threeopenings, (70) for the water distribution pipes; two openings (Z) fortaking off the oxygen gas; and one opening (m) for taking off thehydrogen gas. The tank (6) rests on four feet (n), of porcelain or otherinsulating material, which insulates same from the ground. On theoutside of the tank (6) are welded plates (0) Fig. 2, which receive thenegative conductor of the electriccurrent, which said current isdistributed to every portion of said tank (6). Since the surface of saidtank (6) is very-large a large quantity of electricity; amperes, canpass through same with very little resistance.

In every compartment or section of the tank (6) is an inside chamber,entirely closed with the exception of two openings at the top. Thisinside chamber is composed of two sections or parts, one (p) termed aseparator, of porcelain or any other non-conducting material resistingthe action of oxygen gas and caustic solution, and the other (q) 1s anasbestos diaphragm thick enough to avoid any'mixture of the gases, andclosed at the bottom forming a more than five hundred I (z) of rubber,or

sack. This asbestos sack is securely fastened to the separator (71). Inthis way a complete non-conducting inclosure for the anode is provided.

Inside of each such chamber is the positive electrode consisting of twotubes (9') and (r), of nickel, or nickel-plated iron, passing throughthe two openings in the separator (p), to which tubes is welded a plate(3) of nickel or nickel-plated iron, covering the inside portion of theseparator (p) and to which plate. are welded wires (23) of nickel ornickcl plated iron. These portions of the positive electrode, (1'),('r'), (s), and (t), may be composed of any material which conductselectricity and which resists, or-is suitably protected, from the actionof oxygen gas and caustic solution.

The wires (2 are arranged vertically as shown in detail in Figs. -1, at,and 5, and permit the passage of a large quantity of electricity withvery little resistance. The tube (1-) is used for the escape of theoxygen gas, and the tube (r) for the supply and distribution of water.

The cover (g), separator (P) and posi-- tive electrode (1", r, s, t) arefastened together by nuts (u) with an intervening washer or gasket ofinsulating material 0).

Inside of the tubes (1*) and (1") and of the tube (w) for the escape ofthe hydrogen gas, and of the tube (m) for the supply and distribution ofthe water, are other tubes (y, 3 3 respectively of porcelain or otherinsulating material, to which a hose other insulating material, connectswith the take-01f pipes (b) for oxygen gas, (c) for hydrogen gas and ((1for the distribution of water.

The iron, or steel, tank (6) is filled up to p the separator (p) with asolution of caustic s, t) and of the strength most suitable for theopera-' tion of the generator.

With this system of complete insulation, the only electrical contactbetween the two electrodes, 2'. e., the positive electrode (1', r,

the negative electrode, the tank (6), is the caustic solution fillingthe tank, and this is the only resistance. of the generator.

When the oxygen and hydrogen generator is in operation, the currentpasses from the ositive electrode, through the caustic soution to thenegative electrode ineach compartment, and it will be understood that aplurality of the cells may be connected in series, as indicated in Fig.3. Water is de-. composed by the electric current into its two componentgases, oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen is formed on the surface of 'all'thewires of the positive electrode and proceeds vertically through theopening (1) Fig. 4, and escapes by the porcelain tube (y). Hydrogen isformed on the surface of the negative electrode, 01. 6., the wholeinside of the tank (6), in contact with the caustic solution, and risesbetween the diaphragm (q) and the sides of the tank (6), and passes theseparator (p) and escapes through the porcelain tube (y).

' All the oxygen outlets from the generators are connected to the sametake-0H pipe (b) and the gas passes directly to the oxygen gas holderwhere it is stored at a suitable pressure. Similarly, all the hydrogenoutlets are connected to the same .take-off pipe (0) and the gas passesdirectly to the hydrogen gas holder where it is stored at a suitablepressure.

The water decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen gases is continuouslyreplaced by water from a suitable reservoir through the supply pipe (d)and the tubes (g which later deliver the water at the bottom of thegenerator at (2) Fig. 2, and creates a circulation of the causticsolution and thereby maintains it at a uniform strength throughout.

. I claim as my invention;

1. An electrolytic cell for the generation of oxygen and hydrogencomprising a container for electrolyte provided with anode and cathode,and a non-conducting inclosure for the anode to separate the gases andprevent electrolytic action except on the surfaces of the electrodes,the said inclosure comprising a separator of solid non-conductingmaterialabove the electrolyte and projecting a suitable distance belowthe surface of the same, and a suspended sack of nonconductingmaterialsecured to the separator and inclosing the anode below thesurface of the liquid.

2. In an electrolytic cell for the generation of oxygen and hydrogen,the combination with an anode and cathode, of a complete non-conductinginclosure for the anode comprising a separator of porcelain or othersuitable non-conducting and oxygen-resisting material over the anode,said separator having a closed top provided with an oxygen outlet andsides extending below the surface ofthe electrolyte, and an asbestossack se cured to and suspended below the separator A and inclosing theanode below the, surface of the electrolyte.

3. An electrolytic cell for the generation i of oxygen and hydrogencomprising a tank capable of holding the electrolyte and constitutmg thecathode, an anode suspended in the electrolyte, a separator of porcelainor" equivalent non-conducting material over' the anode and inclosing theoxygen-collecting chamber, and an asbestos sack secured to and suspendedbelow said separator and inc losing the anode below the surface of theliquid, said separator and sack constituting a complete non-conductinginclosu're for the angd e. v An electrolytic cell for the generation 3of oxygen and hydrogen comprising a tank capable of holding theelectrolyte and constituting the cathode, a cover for the tank, an anodesuspended in the electrolyte from the cover, a separator of porcelain orequivalent non-conducting material supported over theanode with itssides extending below the surface of the electrolyte, an asbestos sacksecured to and suspended below said separator and inclosing the anodebelow the surface of the liquid, said separator and sack constituting acomplete non-conducting inclosure for the anode, means for conductingoil the oxygen from the interior of the separator, and means forconducting oft hydrogen from the space beneath the cover outside of theseparator.

5. In an electrolytic cell for the generation of oxygen and hydrogen, ananode comprising wires united in the form of a hollow body and acomplete non-conducting inclosure for said anode comprising a separatorof porcelainor equivalentmaterial over the anode with its sidesextending below the surface of the electrolyte, and an asbestos sacksecured to and suspended below said separator and inclosing the anodebelow the liquid level.

6. In a. cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combination ofa tank, a partition dividing the interior'of the tank into narrowvertically-arranged compartments, said partition and the walls of thetank together constituting the cathode part, a cover for the tank,separators of non-conducting material and inverted trough form supportedfrom and below said top lengthwise of the compartments, anodes of hollowoblong horizontal section suspended in the compartments below theseparators, and sacks depending from said s parators and inclosing theanodes.

7. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combinationwith anode and cathode, ofa separator over the anode, the same being ofnon-conducting material resistant to the action of the electrolyteandoxygen and of inverted trough form, and a sack of nonconductingmaterial depending from said separator and inclosing the anode below theliquid level.

8. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combinationwith a tank, a top,

a separator of non-conducting material and inverted trough form beneathsaid top, an anode extending downward below the separator, and meansconnected to the anode and extending through the separator to supportthe anode and separator from said top.

9. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combinationwith a tank having a top, a separator of non-conducting material andinverted trough form beneath said top, an anode extending below saidseparator, and a hollow support for said anode ex tending through theseparator and secured to said top, said hollow support constituting alsoan oiftake for the oxygen.

10. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combination ofa separator of non-conducting material and inverted trough form, aconducting bar within the chamber of said separator, and an anodecomprising adjacent spaced side portions united at the top to said bar.11. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combination ofa tank having a top, aseparator of non-conducting material and invertedtrough form beneath said top, a conducting bar beneath the top of thechamber of said separator, an anode comprising adjacent spaced sideportions united at the top to said bar, conducting and supportingmembers extending from said bar through the top' of said separator andfastened to the top for the tank, and a diaphragm of non-conductingmaterial fastened to said separator and inclosing the anode.

12. In a cell for electrolytic dissociation of water, the combination ofa tank constituting a cathode, a top beneath which hydrogen iscollected,. an anode suspended from said top, a separator ofnon-conducting material over said anode formed to inclose a narrowoxygen-collecting chamber the walls of which extend a distance below thenormal electrolyte level, and a sack of non-conducting materialdepending from said separator and inclosing the anode below the normalelectrolyte level, and a sack of electrolyte level.

13. A cell for electrolytic dissociation of water having a cathode, atop beneath which hydrogen is collected, a separator of nonconductingmaterial beneath said top formed to inclose a narrow oxygen-collectingchamber the walls of which extend below the normal electrolyte level, aconducting bar beneath the top of said separator, an

anode comprlsing spaced adjacent side por- Correction in Letters PatentNo.1,1 72,885.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,172,885, grantedFebruary 22, 1916, upon the application of George Halter, of New York,N. Y., for an improvement in Apparatus for the Production of Oxygen andHydrogen Gases, an error appears in the printed specification requiringcorrection as follows: Page 3, line 101, claim 12, strike out the wordsand that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of March, A. D., 1919 [SEALJ 'R. F.WHITEHEAD.

Acting Commissioner of Patents..

normal electrolyte level, and a sack of

